Space saver spare tyre

[Grizzly 14]

Hello,

Has anyone any experience / got one for an Excel? If so which one? Ones for the Ford Fiesta seem to be easy and cheap to get.

One thing that I have found in mt research is that the diameter of these space saver spares is nearly always smaller than the diameter of a full tyre, which in my mind says that on a flat surface the spare is off the ground - or does the suspension on that side compensate for this?

Thanks

 

Brian

[andydclements 486 2 Vehicles]

On many modern cars, the suspension is flexible enough to cope with a few cms difference in rolling diameter, but I think you're right to be think differently for the Excel. These are cars that are quite stiff, so if one tyre is of a smaller diameter then it may make the car slope noticeably, but you'd presumably be driving very sedately when on a space-saver tyre.

Our tyre sizes are quite small by modern standards,  so (if a Fiesta space saver is 125 80 15) then it's only 2.6% different to a standard Excel tyre (215 15 15), or 1.7% to a common replacement (205 50 15 as the 215s are hard to acquire at reasonable cost). At that sort of difference I'd personally not worry.

[Grizzly 14]

Andy,

Many thanks for your reply and for confirming my thoughts. Yes, I would drive sedately and straight to a tyre shop, so no distance at all, hopefully. I hope never to have to use it as I will also be carrying an electric pump / foam puncture repair kit.

Brian

[tom kilner 120]

Great idea what's the weight saving going to be? Leaving out the can of foam and electric pump?

I think if you punctured on the front that 2% (maybe throw in more deformation on the car because of narrower profile?) difference could be a problem.

[Grizzly 14]

I'm not bothered by the weight saving, so I wouldn't know. I'm not looking at getting one so save weight but to find a wheel that will fit into the boot - the full size wheel won't. Hoping a thinner wheel will.

I will also be having the can of foam, the spare wheel being used only if the foam doesn't work.

[andydclements 486 2 Vehicles]

I was wondering why a full size one wouldn't fit but I'm guessing it's because the Elite used smaller wheels than the Excel, and you're using Excel-size tyres etc.

[Grizzly 14]

As a follow up to this I am using the space saver tyre from my Volvo V40 which fits the Excel (same 114.3 pcd for the wheel nuts) and is the same diameter as the Excel full size tyre. The full size tyre is just too wide

[Don.Hasi 55 4 Vehicles]

In the stock layout the spare tire is mounted under the car. In the Excel it is a safety feature. In the predecessors it is just weight in mud. So I got rid of it and take a tire repair can/ inflater with me. For the cases the repair can doesn't work, the AA-Card will engage (must have for Oldtimers)

[ChrisJ 1,088 2 Vehicles]

Be aware if you remove your spare wheel.

AA (UK) terms & Conditions

Quote

General Exclusions

1. Basic Breakdown Cover does not provide for:

d. Failure to carry a serviceable spare, that is

any additional charges resulting from Your failure to carry a legal and serviceable spare wheel or tyre, except where this is not provided as manufacturers’ standard equipment. The AA will endeavour to arrange on your behalf, but will not pay for, assistance from a third party;

RAC

Quote

General exclusions for this policy
The following exclusions will apply to this policy

11. Any costs relating to the repairs of wheels and
tyres or costs relating to any vehicle not carrying a
serviceable spare tyre. We will provide assistance
to change the tyre using a serviceable spare tyre
carried by you. Where the vehicle is not provided
with a spare tyre we will recover the vehicle to a local
repairer; (my italic)

 

 

 

 

 

[Don.Hasi 55 4 Vehicles]

 wow. In this case you have to decide about the incident rate...

[Grizzly 14]

Here are the results of my efforts

[Straker 25]

Are you including some sort of retaining clamp for the spare?

is that 2x flowcheck valves in the image?

[Grizzly 14]

Yes I have a central retaining clamp - an 8 mm bolt  through a piece of steel plate that spans the wheel centre hole and into an 8mm bolt which is welded into another steel piece which is screwed into the North / South strengtheners

No - the one on the left is a flowcheck valve, the one on the right is a Fawcett solid state electric fuel pump

[EXCEL V8 44]

Have you grafted the wheel well in yourself, or did later cars come like that?  Looks good.

Pete

[Grizzly 14]

I did it myself. I made a tub and grafted it into place. If I were to do it again, and knowing what I know know, I would not do it this way again. Simply cut out what you don't need and make good with pre-made sides and base, and do it with the car body off the chassis. i did it with the body on, working on my back and going home with fibreglass rein in my hair!

I made a mould from artist's foam board, made a thin tub wall with  fibreglass, made a flat base and glassed them together reinforced with metal angles (don't want the bottom falling out whilst driving down the motorway!), trial fitted it many times to get it right and tight to the existing car well walls (cut and carve - good job it's fibreglass, fitted and glued in place with builders foam to fill any spaces and added extra fibreglass between the tub and the existing wherever it touched. It was a marathon in the end, but it is what I wanted to do.

I don't know about late cars, but I think they did, especially later Eclats.

Brian

[Straker 25]

Elegant solution, did you glass in bobbins for the fuel pump mounts at the same time?

are you forming a box or mount for the battery as well? I’m curious as a PO moved the battery to the rear in my Eclat and it’s just  wedged in place with celotex.....

[EXCEL V8 44]

Great work Brian.  I'm always glad to see that it's not just me!! 

Pete

[Grizzly 14]

No, no bobbins. I would only use these for major structural / load bearing fixing points such as doors, bonnet etc.. Just clean cut holes through 6mm thick fibreglass with oversize od washers.

The battery area is another area to fix. My current battery fits into the well behind the wheel arch and was held in place by two threaded rods glassed into the body and restrained by a cross bar. It was covered by a box lid that also had a tool box on top as part of the whole. I would like to fit a bigger battery, but have yet to understand battery terminology fully as to whether bigger means physical size, or able to stay charged for longer. A physically bigger battery would not fit into the battery well so I may have to lose this space by covering with a battery tray and cover with boot carpet.